Charging secondary batteries



- April 21, 1925. v v 1,534,026

E. L. BU R N E CHARGING SECONDARY BATTERIES Filed Feb. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I 15 L E WARD qncnsrm BURNE 2,0 6 7 INVENTORY;

, Apr-i121, 1925. 1,534,026

E. L. BURNE CHARGING SECONDARY BATTERIES Filed Feb. 10, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD LANcAs reR BURNE |NVENTOR Attorney EDNARD LANCASTER BUBNE, (YE \TIESTiLl ETJER, LONDON, ENGLAND.

Application filed February 10, 192:

To (1. 207mm it may concern Be it known that, I, EDWARD Lauonsrnn Bonus. residing at 28 Victoria Street, Westminster, London, TV. 1, England, asubject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charging Secondary Batteries, or" which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to a method by which a. battery of secondary cells may be efiiciently charged by an elect i. current that is variable in amount and comprises means for automatically or otherwise subgrouping or combining groups to vary the number of cells in the charging circuit as required for the prevailing conditions, and may comprise meahs tor interposing a varying resistance in the charging circuit to allou a more graduated stepping of the E. M. F. of the dynamo circuit, and means-for equalizing the charging rate of the groups Where the number of cells in the battery is not multiple of the number of groups.

It isuell known that it the charging current is below a certain minimum the desired electro-chemical action, which should talre place during cha ging, is not fully established, with the result that the cells are not properly charged. f

Itis also liHOWll that an excessive charging current lamages the cells besides causing a Waste of energy. I

In cases Where the energy available is too small for properly charging a battery in the ordinary ivay attempts have been made to overcome the difiiculty by dividing the cells composing the battery intogro-ups and charging each group successively and in turn.

Thus suppose a battery is divided into three.

groups of cells. the eleetromotive force needed for each group Wlll be only -one third of that required for whole batterv, with the result that the amperage may 3e increased three-fold and a given quantity of energ employed to better advantage.

Such an arrangement, however, presupposes that a fairly uniform charging on rent is obtainable as for the reasons already stated, it is not permissible to charge below a certain minimum or to ez d a certain maximum rate, and the allowable variation from the normal charging current is confined to comparatively narrow limits.

it av prime mover of irregular power, such as a Windmill, is employed for dynamo Serial No. 8,429.

driving the output of the latter is likely to vary to a far greater degree than can be battery. As a. consequence there Will be periods when power will have to be Wasted on the one hand because itis insuliicient and on the other, because it is in excess.

My invention is designed to remove these disabilities and it consists in varying the number of groups of cells in the charging circuit automatically or otherwise When required by the conditions prevailing. The system of grouping or dividing the cells for charging has the advantage of enabling charging of one group during discharge of the battery as aivhole Without seriously in creasing the total voltage of the discharge circuit, and my invention also has this ad vantage.

In carrying outthis invention I separate the battery into a varying number of groups, the number varying according to the prevailing conditions.

l i here in the arrangement into groups, the groups are necessarily unequal, it has been found advisable to arrange for resistanceor counter E. M. F. cells to equalize the charging of the groups. Suppose for instance itis desired to charge 28 cells in groups of 3 and 6 the number is made up to say (the nearest multiple of 6) by he addition of two counter E. ltl. F. cells or an equivalent resistance or resistances, that.

is to say, the groups in threes may be 10, 10, 8+2, or 1+9, 10, 9+1. These cells or resistances may be used in the discharge circuit if required. The counter E. M. F. cells are substantially unaffected by the charge being generally either unformed grids or pl in lead plates immersed in the usual electn lyte and their sole purpose is to form a resistance.

Thus I may charge the smallest group or combine the groups so as even to bring the WhOlG- battery into the charging circuit, but in order toequalize the charging I arrange that the groups shall be connected With the dynamo or other source of supply in turn.

When a large main) group is in circuit the charging voltage is twice that of a subgroup and the speed of the dynamo is increased to give the extra voltage. This has an important advantage as it enables the Windmill speed to bear a definite relationto an increased, Wind speed and the Wind power is therefore much more fully utilized permitted with the charging current of a llO (iii

than would be the case with a constant or nearly constant Voltage machine; ("for .2;- anipie) Suppose that it required a wind oi about 20 m. p. h. to charge the main group at maximum rate and that a sub-group could be charged at half rate in a 10 mile wind the power required would vary about as the windpower (which is 01 course as the cube of the velocity).

Referring to the drawings tiled herewith:

Fig. 1 is a diagrannnatic sketch showing one method of charging a storage battery according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is one form of operating gear 101' the apparatus.

Figs. 3 and i shew ar angements for antomatically altering the grouping; of the cells according to the strength of the charging c irrent;

The storage battery may be divided into any number of groups and sub-grornps as may be required, but to simplify the description two main groups and tour subgroups are shown her with. The two main groups are represented by Q, 5 and at, 5, and the four sul'i-groups by 2, 3, 1 and 5.

6, T, and 8 9. indicate two distinct and separate pairs or mains from the dynamo or other source of supply. The mains G, are connected to segments it), 11 of a sr-ritch and the mains S, 9, to other segments 12 1 Four pairs of diametrically opposed segments 14-, 15, 16, 1. 18 19, and 30, 21. :1 disposed concentrically around the segments 10, 11 and tvo pairs of diametrically opposed segments 22. and 52 1. 23. are d posed concentrically around the segments 12, 13. Upon a common centre 26 is i 01 nted a bar 27 of insulating material.

The outermost segment. 1st, 16, it and are adapted to be connected to the segment 10 and the outermost segments 1 1. 19 and 21 to the segment 11 by contact pieces 28, 29, carried on the bar 2?, opposite outer segments being simultaneously connected to their respective segments 10 or 11,.

In a similar manner the inner segments 22, 23, and 2 1, 25 are adapted to be connected to the inmost segments 12, 13. by the contact pieces 30, 31.

1 1 iii] The bar 2'7 is adapted to be rotated intermittently or otherwise at any desired speed by any suitable external source of power, but I prefer to employ motion derived from the dynamo shaft or from the prime mover.

In operation supposing the bar to be in the position shewn in the drawings and cur rent flowing through the mains 6, 7, but not through the mains, 8, 9. the dynamo will ohviously be charging sub-group 2.

it, however, the current is t'ansterrod from the mains 6, 7, to the mains S, 9, both 2 and 3 sub-groups will be in circuit. lit the bar 27 is rotated so as to make segment 16 Contact with. segment 10 and segment 1"? with segment 11, ei ier the sub-g oup 3, will receive the cnarej 1g current or the combined groups 2 and 3 according to which pair of mains are connected to the =tlynau'io at the time 'eing.

As the positive pole of combined group? and 3 segment may be connecte and one conductor only no to the terminal. For the s; tire sogn'iei'it and segment connected and one conductor out the .ne 'atire terminal oi? it ie 2 311;. Simi y segment 18 may be joined ment and segment 21 to segment Further; as the negative of is joined to the positive of grou ductor to this point may be i' jQt tirrly negative and positive and a second conductor avoided by cross conncc ments 1G and The same applies t ments 1S and 17 and to 20 and 19. 1 way the wiring to the various posingthe battery may he led.

tl ii oust-ire an even state ot .zirgc is a whole 1 preicr to connect on rgroup olicc with i (won. but for a lii'nited ti but I may rotate the bar 2? with its contat-ting pi cos continuously; either method tending t evenly distribute the hanging;

current over the whole battery.

I may maize the electrical eonlw i able automatic mechzmisin, suci work, but I prei'er to operat il or the purpose by motion derive h prime mover or trom the dynamo spin le. suitable speed reducing and transinid' t gear being interposed between the switc and the. prime mover or dynamo spindle.

and when required in order that the dynar may oe switched on to the groups oi oils in turn and at the desiied interval ot t me.

This may be effected by a ratch t whorl operated as shown in 2 in which:

A ratchet wheel 32 with teeth in number corresponiiling with the numbers of ctmtacts 14. and 15, 1(3 and 1?. 1S and 19, and 21 that is eight in the case shown. is the spine in carrying the insulat (Fig. 1). A weighted or spring; lever 33 Ctlt'i'yllifl' a pawl Si is tree to est-iiate on this" spindle. One end ot this lever is raised at intervals by means oi" the roller 35 on a wired which is rotated at the desired speed by any suitable i of power, but 1 prefer to employ nan secured to i mover for Lansing rotation.

two sub-groups are combined to l orm over by automatic means, and Fig.

The raising of the end of this lever 33 allows the pawl 3 1 to engage with a tooth of the ratchet wheel.

Further rotation of the wheel 36 allows the lever to fall suddenly (the distanceil? being so proportioned that the ratchetwheel may be moved through one eighth of a revolution) and to shift the contact pieces 28- and 29 to a fresh pair 01 the outer seg ments. Eiimultaneously the contact pieces and 2-31 will move on the inner segments 22 and 23, but the relative movement of the contact pieces and the sizeot' the segments are so proportioned that the contact pieces 30 and 31 will engage with either of the two pairs of inner segments 22 and 23, or 2 1- and 25 during two movements of the ratchet wheel. In this manner a sub-group of cells may be put into circuit by connecting the segments 10 and 11 with-the dynan' o or source 01' supply and disconnecting the seg ments 12 and 18. If this order is reversed one main group in the charging circuit.

instead of operating the switch by mechanical power I may employ electrically operated solenoidor relay switches, the current for actuating them being derived from the dynamo, or ifdesired from the cells and the electrical connection to the solenoid or relay switches being established by, an electrical contacting'device opera ed by mecl 0.1 ical power in the manner previously de scribed, or by a diiierence of potemtial existing between any group 01" cells and the rest.

1 may connect the groups or the subgr ups with the charging circuit as required in any suitable manner,-lor example, by means of a change over switch, hand operated r otherwise, a d so arranged that either the outer segments 10 and 11 may be connected with the dynamo and the subgroups of cells 2, S, 1- and charged in succession or the inner segments 12 and 13 connected and the main groups'2,;3 and 1-, 5, charged in succession.

I prefer, however, to efiect the change o shows one method by which this may beacconfr phshed.

in the Fig. 3, 38 andSt represent two conducting segments which are connected to the dynamo or other source ot electrical energy and 40 a concentric segment which is conn cted to segmen 11 in Fig. 1. 11 is a supplementary segment which is connected to se ment 13 in Fig. 1, e2 to 4:8 areconcentric segments the first four of which 12, 43, 1 11, and are connected through the medium otthe resistances 17 toll?) to segment 10 in Fig. 1 and the last of which (46) is co nnected to segment 12 in Fig. 1. These resistances may be dispensed with if desired. 50 is an insulated bar carrying contacts 51 and 52 and revohihle abo,ut the These SC centre 4+8 and-l9 are suitable-resis= ances which 1 msyeinploy, connecting segments to to 14, and role. The l the resistances may vary in nd de ree ccording to the numb r each sub-group in the tion the.

. posia the contact bridges se inents c i and 10 and the contact 52 bridges se n-ents and connection iil be made between the dynamo and se ments 1i an, and one of th sub-groups ot cells (2, or 5 in the battery rill be in the cha I circuit. If, however, the bar is r-' ted so that segments 39 and i1 and se 1- are bridged, connection wi 1 be ween the dynamo and segments 13 and 12, in Fig. 1 and segments 11 and 10 will disconnected.

The contact is suticiently wide to bring the space between the adjacent ments 1:2,and 13, ll, anc i6. the contact is moved from 1:. 13 the current will be still conveyed to segrents 10 and 11 but the w i l be placed in the CJ.1CUll..- S

is further moved from 13-3 to 4% th further resistance e tl'will be placcdin circuit-and so on so that when con act reaches segment 5 the whole or? the reiistance It", to' lil, will be in circuit Further moveon segcutcuit. should the current become CIICQSSlY-Q or on account of the battery being tully ch l 53': and re connected toan independent circuit which ma consistot asuilable resi tance 56,01 the .may be connected to. a'suitable electrical device designedto release apparatus which may liie'employec to stop or to r ejulate the prime mover.

ll hen the her 50 isfin such a position that the contact 51 bridges segments and 5 1. anl the contact 52 bridges segments 39 1 may employ further segments 1nd pendent circuit.

and 55, current will no longer flow to the battery but instead llI-lVlll bedwerted to the The changing device shewn in; Fig. 3 may be operated by hand, but automatic means for accomplishing this are indicated in Fig. 1. 5'? is a solenoid in the dynamo circuit preferably arranged as a shunt with a suitable resistance 58 which may he adjustable.

Any excess of currentvvill cause movenicn of the plunger the connecting h and the lever 61 the la ttcr being pivot 61 and having a toothed scefinent ing With th pinion (51 cariied 50. The bar 50 (Fig. 8) with c 51 and 52 is thereby moved thr )U of a circle. lhe amount of to raise the plunger may be de by the resistance or a spring or neli the rate of movement by a dash suitable device. Obviously a rel employed for putting" the so en cuit when the conditions are change in the size of the charged is required, and ohriei line movement of the bar 50 stituted for a circular 2 segments ar'ang'ed accorn ll l'iilc l have shown an siderahlc d tail ones my invention, it is to he undo this showing and dc only, and for the pi the nature of the i i i'cntion not regard the invention as details, nor to any or? ti far as such. limitations a the terms or the following; cl is my intention to claim all n hercntin my invention as broadly lnissi'ole. in view of the prior art.

lVhat 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I- 1. in apparaius for ch.-. cells in \v iich a dynamo en'iployed, cells arranged i inning or for separat rs 0 ed S, llltill l S for com L e groups in relation to the power, developer and means for charging each of the said groups in succession. the duration o't said charge heing determined by the number of revolutions of the dynamo electric 9,. In apparatus "for char cells in which a dynamo elec'r employed, cells arranged in t A for combining or for separating ti groups in relation to the DOWG" devcl ed means for charging in succession, the

each oi the groups in su a plurality of contacts.

means for charging; each of the said groups in succession the duration oi said charge being determined by the numher oi revolutions oi? the dynamo OlSCt-ilC machine the number of cells in each group, before conibinatioin being equal.

l. In aoparatuc for charging secondary oils in which a dynamo electric machine is cells arranged in groups, means for ating the groups 7 developed and each of the said groups ie duration of said charge d by the number of revolun he,

'ynamo lcctric machine, the

V con'ihining or separating the dc power developed cchv'the speed of the ('l ;.'naino l n secondary 1c machine is in groups, means or ior separating the groups the power developed and I ng each or the said groups ie duration of said charge by the number oi revolut= sine electric machine the {I rigging each or the groups in succession co aprising a plurality of conlacls a switch our ope sting in conjunction th reixitli and means for tating aid switch ha v i i I secondary ici dynamo c 'ric machine cells arur d in groups, means ior ccni zi )r lor separating the groups in ielation to the power developed and menus in. charging each of the said groups i ion the i ration olf said c range l V rniincd h the number of revolutions or" the dynamo QlGCi'l'lC machine, said means for combining and separating the g cups comprising a change over switch.

7. .ln aoparatus r charging secondary cells in which a dynamo electric machine is cniploycth cells arranged in groups, means for c hini i or for separating the groups in re to the power developed and I each of the said roups the duration ot said chai cession,

i lacing; d rerniincd hy the number of rive l' i he d namo elect machine 1 c coinl'iinips comprising lll) 

